Paragould Podcast

When Danny Graham and his wife learned their two sons had autism, it moved them to action — joining with Ag for Autism, a local nonprofit raising hundreds of thousands of dollars each year to support families, therapists, and organizations across Northeast Arkansas. In this conversation, Danny shares how a handful of ag companies came together to meet one family’s need, how the movement has grown...

Elvis has left the building… and we finally got to sit down with him! In this episode, we’re joined by Shannon Freeman— known around Paragould as an incredible Elvis impersonator and the lead singer of the band Everyday Life. Shannon shares how his uncle’s homemade Elvis costume started it all, how a back surgery his senior year led to writing his first song, the unforgettable first ever performan...

This week on The Paragould Podcast, we sit down with Jim Burgess — longtime resident, local historian, and former Emerson Electric engineer — to uncover the fascinating story of how our city began. Two railroad rivals, J.W. Paramore and Jay Gould, set out to build competing lines to St. Louis. When their tracks crossed here in 1885, a new community was born — Paragould. From missed opportunities i...

What does it really take to wear the badge? In this episode, we sit down with Jared Bassham, Director of the Law Enforcement Training Academy at BRTC, for a candid look inside the world of police training. Jared shares how a kid raised in a family of educators found his way into law enforcement, working everywhere from school hallways as an SRO to crime scenes as an investigator. Now, he leads the...

In this episode, we sit down with Ava Biggs to share the story of the April Nicole Foundation, an organization born out of April Biggs’ courageous journey with breast cancer. Ava is joined by Stephanie Garner, one of the first recipients of the grant! April Biggs’ legacy is one of joy, memory-making, and choosing life beyond the grind of a 9-to-5. Together, Ava and Stephanie talk about how the Fou...

The Paragould Rams are off to a 3-0 start, and there’s no better time to revisit one of our favorite conversations with legendary Rams Super Fan, Ronnie Cook. If you’ve spent any time in Paragould, chances are you’ve heard of Ronnie. He’s a local icon, known for his unmatched passion and loyalty to the Rams. In this episode, Ronnie shares why he loves the Rams so much, the story of how GCT briefly...

In this episode of the Paragould Podcast, we’re rolling into the inspiring story of Chris Moyer, owner of Let’s Roll Paragould and longtime ambassador for the sport of bowling. From growing up in the Poconos and bowling in leagues at age 5 to earning a college scholarship and rolling his first perfect 300 game at just 17, Chris’s life has always revolved around the lanes. After moving to Paragould...

Some teachers change your grades; a few change your life.  One of Jared’s favorite high school teachers comes on to discuss his career in education, what makes for a good teacher, and how to work through your grief after the loss of a loved one. Our guest is retired Ag teacher John Clark, who began teaching in 1990, moved through MS, Texarkana, and Corning, and came to Paragould High School in 199...

Few people in Paragould can say they’re the best in the world at something—Sebastian Barger is one of them. A graduate of Paragould High School, Sebastian’s story took off during the COVID shutdowns when he found himself with extra time and a simple set of cornhole boards. What started as 3–4 hours of daily practice quickly turned into a path to the pros. Within a year, he was competing at the hig...

What makes a community rise instead of decline? On this episode of the Paragould Podcast, we sit down with Bob Barber, Founding Partner of Orion Planning + Design, whose team guided Paragould city leadership in developing Discover Paragould 2042. Bob has worked with hundreds of cities, and he shares what he’s learned about vision, planning, and the importance of seeing a community as a “rich ecolo...

Brent Gambill’s career has taken him from serving ice cream at the Paragould Dairy Queen to working with Major League Baseball legends and leading communications for NASCAR’s racetracks. A Ridgecrest High School graduate, Brent’s journey includes a year with the Los Angeles Dodgers, years at SiriusXM covering MLB, including pioneering their social media coverage, unforgettable moments like the fin...

Jeff Rousseau’s story is one of redemption and difficult recovery. In the 1990s, Jeff fell into addiction and found himself caught in a world of meth—one that would ravage northeast Arkansas for decades. After multiple run-ins with the law, he eventually landed in prison, where he encountered Christ and began a slow but determined path to healing. Along the way, Jeff managed Paragould’s beloved Bo...

In this episode, we sit down with Lieutenant Blake Williams — Marine Corps veteran, longtime Paragould police officer, and current leader of the SWAT team. Blake shares stories from his time serving in the military during the early ’90s and 2000s, and how those experiences shaped his calling to serve his hometown. We talk about the reality of police work, the weight of leadership, and what it look...

In our series of rebroadcasting Bob Branch's interviews, we come to when he returned for a record-setting fifth appearance—his third just that year! In this episode, Bob takes us on a detailed, block-by-block oral tour of historic Paragould. Backed by hours of research at the Greene County Historical and Genealogical Society, Bob blends rich storytelling with accurate dates, names, and hidden gems...

In our 4th interview with Bob Branch, he gets a bit more personal about HIS Paragould history.  In this special episode, Bob returns to the studio for the second time in just one month to share 10 vivid snapshots of life growing up in Paragould during the Great Depression. From daily survival to small-town joy, and from front porches to battlefields, Bob reflects on a time of hardship, resilience,...

Our third installment of rebroadcasting Bob Branch's record five guest appearances!  After the War of 1812, pioneers began making their way west of the Mississippi—and Greene County was born. In this episode, Bob Branch shares the remarkable story of Benjamin Crowley and introduces us to a lesser-known figure: Isaac Brookfield. From land grants to early settlements, this is a fascinating look at h...

We rebroadcast Bob Branch's second visit to the studio with this fascinating education history. From one-room schoolhouses to city-wide integration, few people can trace the history of education in Paragould and Greene County like Bob Branch. In this episode, Bob walks us through how local schools shaped the identity of our community—from early foundations to lasting impact. His firsthand knowledg...

If anyone knows Paragould, it’s Bob Branch. A retired attorney and lifelong resident, Bob has called Paragould home for over 90 years. His stories, wisdom, and unmatched knowledge of local history make this a conversation we’ve long hoped to capture—and it was well worth the wait. We’re honored to share it with you... again!  We first aired this interview in May 2022. It is Bob's first of five vis...

This week’s episode is a bit different—and one of the most fascinating we’ve ever done. Our guest didn’t come to share her story, but the story she uncovered. After listening to a past episode of the Paragould Podcast, Julie Wilkins became captivated by the case of Leroy Bullock, the man convicted of brutally murdering Dr. and Mrs. Jones on December 13, 1988—a day that just so happened to fall on...

Brian Songer spent over 20 years as a functioning alcoholic—hiding his addiction from those around him and, at times, even from himself. But when he lost his job due to alcohol still in his system, the truth began to unravel. Within a year, he was diagnosed with cirrhosis of the liver and came close to death. Thanks to a liver transplant—and God’s grace—Brian’s story didn’t end there. In this epis...

This week on the Paragould Podcast, we sit down with Michael Harris from the Paragould Fire Department to get an inside look at the life of a firefighter. Michael shares what led him to this calling, what a typical day looks like at the station, and what actually happens when a call comes in. We also talk about the real dangers of the job, the camaraderie among the team, and how last year’s tax in...

This week is a special one — Due to a medical emergency of our guest this week, we needed some super heroes to save the day. Enter: Jared's kids!!   Nora, Wyatt, and Moses give us a glimpse into what life is like as kids today — from the highs and lows of school, to friendships, to what it’s really like having Jared as their dad. (Spoiler: he might be cooler than you think… or not.)   It’s a light...

In this episode, we sit down with Adam Followell, Public Works Director for the City of Paragould. Adam gives us an inside look at how his team helps keep Paragould clean, safe, and beautiful—from street repairs and sanitation to long-term infrastructure planning. You’ll hear about the day-to-day challenges of public service, the heart behind the work, and why it all matters to the people who call...

On July 1, 2022, we aired an episode of the Paragould Podcast with Jerry Bellew: an MMA fighter and owner of Bellew Barber Shop.  Sadly, he was taken from us far too early, on May 14, 2025 at the age of 46. Our original episode description: Jerry Ballew joins us to talk about his fascinating journey that ultimately landed him in Paragould. After hanging out in the barber shops of Brooklyn, NY, mov...

Telly Roberts knows addiction from the inside out. She once lived it—now she’s helping others escape it. In this episode, Telly shares how she got pulled into a life of drug use and dealing, what finally broke the cycle, and how she’s turned her pain into purpose. As a Peer Recovery Specialist, Telly now supports 15–20 individuals in Drug Court, helping them navigate the path to sobriety and stabi...